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Last night we gave you part one of the Denver Broncos who are on the cusp of breaking out. Today we give you part two of three and again look to you our valued readers to continue to evaluate and discuss who and why.
Yesterday I mentioned defensive tackle Marcus Thomas, wide receiver/kick returner/punt returner Quan Cosby and cornerback Jonathan Wilhite. With part two I will go predominantly offense with one defensive player you probably have not even noticed yet.
The one X-factor I had when deciding on whether to include Quan Cosby in part one is the fact that Demaryius Thomas will soon be rejoining the team. In his shortened 2010 season Thomas was vivid, making most fans in Broncos Country wonder Dez Bryant who?
As a rookie Thomas played in ten games, started two and in a very busy Denver offense managed two touchdowns and 682 all purpose yards. I need not mention a possible TD in the end zone as it may be burned in some of your minds. Still, the knock on Thomas is his three fumbles,
Make no mistake about it though, it is Thomas not Eddie Royal who makes Brandon Lloyd expendable in Denver. What puts Thomas on cusp is the fact that he really has yet to have a preseason, so this time off due to injury in 2011 has served as just that for the young wide out.
I would venture to guess that the Broncos may agree with me, being that they've kept a roster spot open for Thomas this entire season.
Julius Thomas is what I would like to call a safe hail mary. Thomas will likely return to practice on Monday and with that likely the starting lineup. Thomas started two games before he went down with an injury, he currently has a grand total of one catch for five yards.
In the preseason Thomas finished fifth on the Broncos roster in catches and yards. He currently sits dead last in receptions and yards for Denver receivers and running backs. I can't say that he would have it any other way.
If anything can be a blessing about being injured it is the fact that this rookie got a chance to catch his breath. After the Combine, Draft and preseason left him a little neck twisted, he has hopefully had time to study and likely the game has slowed a bit for him as he attempts to reenter the lineup.
Anyone? Seriously, anyone? The only third-string cornerback Denver currently employs has played in all five games and has only notched two tackles. Chris Harris is so little known that SBNation doesn't even have a photo of him. That's how little is known about this young man outside of this lovely country that we call Broncos.
Special teams coach Jeff Rodgers didn't even know who Harris was, stating that while watching practice tape, a lot of the angles are so wide that you couldn't even read the number. Yet, when they finally figured out who that player was that kept making those great special teams plays was, they realized it was Harris.
Harris came to the Broncos as an undrafted rookie out of Kansas with a major chip on his shoulder, but true to his career he has backed it up notching four special teams tackles (the most on the team) thus far.
We will hit you with part three later today, so stay tuned and in the mean time let us hear it in the comments. Do you agree or disagree? Who should we include in the finale of the series? In the meantime, be sure to like Mile High Report on Facebook right here.